Olesya Zhurakivska is a real star of Ukrainian cinema and theater, but without pathos and star sickness.
Recently, in the TV series "Serfdom", which gained a lot of popularity in our country and in Poland, she played the role of a regular Paulina cook.
Due to the actress's persistence, her role has become better than the script, so it is not surprising that Olesya constantly receives positive reviews, and sometimes she is even asked for advice when they see her in the store.
The impulsive and emotional Olesya Zhurakivska told in an interview to "Ukrainian Truth. Life" why our society needs such as Peacock, about communicating with Russian colleagues and meeting with Oleg Sentsov.
- When did you feel the wave of glory from "Serf"? For you it was expected?
- After several episodes of the first season, viewers began to actively write on social networks: Facebook, Instagram. She felt so much warmth and love.
When I was working, I hoped that people would enjoy our work. Otherwise why are we working ?!
But it seems to me - the result exceeded all our expectations. I was amazed that more than 3 million viewers watched the series in Poland! This work was worth every minute on the set and every shed tear.
- You were almost immediately approved for the role?
- Great casting was in all roles. Including the role of Pauline. I have almost reached the casting finale.
The samples were serious, several hours: they shot two scenes with a partner.
Then I realized that my heroine Peacock was a wonderful woman. This character you definitely need to play.
Unfortunately, the whole development of our society says that love and kindness are less and less as people constantly think about where to make money, to educate their children.
We hide in a lot of gadgets, we don't communicate, we help each other a little. There is no human warm embrace now. Sometimes you want to sit down crying together, laughing, rejoicing in each other.
So I'm glad I was lucky to play this woman. Only through kindness can society develop.
- You give Pauline your powerful energy. And what qualities or traits of this heroine would you like to have?
- I always learn from my characters.
Peacock is a lifelong, symbolic woman who loves her all around her.
Without losing her optimism, she lives from one test to the next - I miss it even though I try to live that way.
Sometimes my temperament lacks the natural wisdom of Pauline to overcome any conflicts. For Pauline, a bad world is better than war. She is a real caregiver.
- Judging by the ratings and great popularity, your Peacock is a new heroine of Ukrainian cinema. Is this such a need of society?
- Yes, there is a need, the proof of this is the ratings and numerous reviews.
In our society, in recent years, we have been constantly called upon to fight, to step on each other. And the one whom we crush is also a man, he has a family, his soul hurts. On this side, Paulina tries to understand everyone and find a way out of the situation.
When I come to the store, there are people immediately around me to talk about their problems, hoping for my advice.
That is, people identify me with Pauline! But I am different in essence. Sometimes I do not have the mental strength to listen to everything, but I realize that there is an urgent need for viewers.
- Are you being attacked on social networks?
- When people treat you well, it is impossible to say that they cannot attack.
For example, one woman, 38, once wrote to me that she had a stroke and went to bed to watch our Serf. She was so angry with the season two finale that she was already under the drip the next morning. But still it is terribly fond of our series.
I am glad that people have the impression that I am like Peacock. But I'm different: I go in a sports car, I like high heels, all sorts of outfits, different gadgets.
- Do you always respond on social networks?
- Not always. If people are rude, no. And I always try to respond to messages with good intentions.
- Peacock is already a national heroine. How much could you improvise on filming?
- There are improvisations in every scene. The specificity of the actor's work is to miss the image you play. No director will put the microreaction of the actor: eyebrow movements, changing eyes ...
There are some people on the set who follow the script - scripts. When I tried not to say any words in the frame, they made me remark.
After a while, I called a creative producer who agreed that it was better to do the way Pauline did as I came up with. And they gave me cartblanch, more scripts to me had no claim.
No screenwriter can predict exactly how an individual character transforms a character. To fill the stage with life - you still improvise a lot.
For example, I asked on the set to prevent me from cooking - I had to cut everything myself, knead the dough. Because it will be natural because of the physical action in the frame.
- Another important project you have is the series "Plantain" - about a more recent history. What is your interest in it?
- Thus - warmth and humanity. It's both mild humor and genuine family relationships, when you're scared to lose the one you love. It happens that we are brought in, and we forget about the more important things, but are fixated on money.
I don't always have the desire to watch where I star. But this series I love to watch. And even my colleagues, who are not always generous in praise, but thanked me for this project.
- Actor envy is as commonplace as in other professions. How much does actor success depend on talent?
- This is my pain. I love people and my profession very much, I travel a lot around the country and abroad, I go to other theaters - we have so many mega-talented actors who have not had the same lucky event.
The acting profession is complicated because of this, this case may not be the case. Having the patience to wait for him, not to give up his profession is very difficult. Talent and success are often unrelated, unfortunately.
- You said that we have many talented actors. Now our actors are in demand on the Ukrainian movie market?
- Let's not lie: we still have Russian actors, though less. And accordingly, our actors are not so often go to Russia.
I also filmed a lot there before the beginning of these events, but now I cannot step over it.
- And the offers from there continue to come?
- Of course, but less so. We have already started making more films.
However, you are in constant stress: will there be state funding for cinema tomorrow. If the little shoots do not survive, then they will die - as in the movies.
- The fact that Ukrainian actors and movies still shoot Russian actors due to the fact that in the future the product will be sold to the Russian market or are there other reasons?
- I think so, but it's more a question for the producers. I cannot say that I am against Russian actors as people.
For example, in "Serfdom" the leading role was played by Katya Kovalchuk from Russia. She is very talented and mega-hard to shoot.
But we want the Ukrainians to star in the lead roles, and it already depends on those who sell the movie product. Why do the French and Italians have enough pride to take their actors, and we do not ?!
- Have the fees changed in the last five years?
- So. Decreased.
- Although it should have been the other way around.
- So. We began to shoot more of our actors, which always cost less.
- Is it such an inferiority complex?
- Producers, not actors. When I was filming in Russia, I had the same fees as my Russian colleagues.
- Do you now interact with Russian actors?
- Of course, because not all there are "Putinists", there are normal people who come out with single pickets.
I do not betray my friends no matter where they live. There's my alma mater, friends, godson. Everything changes, and family ties, closeness of souls remain.
I am a big proponent of small business theory: step by step doing what you can. If everyone were not closed and talked to the one they love in the same Russia, it would be easier.
- You've been in a lot of shows. And how do you feel about what some consider fast food a series for the viewer?
- It is difficult to call Netflix series fast food, we have few such products, but "Fortress", for example, in Poland the Netflix series won in the ratings.
I don't think it's fast food. But if people have that opinion, then I don't care because it's their right.
- Spectators can see you at the theater on the Left Bank and at the "Actor" theater, where you play "East-West" (based on plays written by teenagers from the western and eastern regions of Ukraine). Oleg Sentsov, released from the Russian captivity, recently came to this performance.
- Yes, it was great happiness (Olesya barely holds back her tears when she remembers this meeting, –aut.). I wanted to hug him so much.
- Did you know that he was coming to the show?
- A couple of hours before the performance.
- Nervous?
- Yes, they were upset. But not because we wanted to please, but for a very long time we were waiting for this moment.
From the premiere to this day, we always came out with the hashtags in the finale of the performance: #FreeSentsov #SaveSentsov. And when that person you fought for is near you, it's joyful and touching.
- What did they talk about after the performance?
- He has a heavy load of communication with different people at the moment, so we tried to be sensitive. Talked about the performance, the actors with a sincere heart cheered for him, Oleg thanked.
We tell him: "You look at us - we are strangers to you, and you have already become our native." He joked: "I knew there would be such trouble: I will be close to everyone, but I will not know everyone."
It struck me that he had gone through such cruel trials and remained a warm man.
- Would you like to star in his movie?
- With pleasure! Shooting is also about communicating with a person who enriches us. When not just a craftsman, but a person with pain and joy.
- What directors have you worked with that influenced you?
- In the theater, this is first of all Alexei Lisovets, who gave the first leading role in the performance, specially set for me the "Corsican".
Of course, now the late Edward Customs, who took me to the theater, was a wise mentor.
The young and ambitious Stas Zhirkov (currently heading the theater on the Left Bank, ed.) Really impresses me. There is a passion for everything he does.
And in the cinema there is a big list of names: Anatoliy Mateshko, Anna Gres, Oleksandr Tymenko, Maxim Litvinov.
(At this time, a girl approaches, asking Mrs. Olesy to take a selfie, ed.).
- What kind of premieres do you expect to see in the theater this season?
- For the time being I cannot say the name, I will only mention: director Tamara Trunova, with whom I have long dreamed of working, I admire her creativity. It has an interesting style, can work with any shape and on any site.
It will be a modern dramaturgy - about human relationships.
- In recent years, you have been taking care of the Veterans Home scene in Pushcha-Vodytsya. The residents of the home always talk very warmly about you, thanking you for their help and attention.
Recently, you wrote on social networks that your home is 60 years old. What do the people who live there now need?
- Financing issues - repairs, food, medicines - have been resolved and conditions have improved significantly.
First of all, they lack communication, kindness and attention. Most of them are elderly people who want to talk to them. I'm trying to get casting directors to invite them to shoot. Volunteers, actors from Kiev theaters arrive.
Most in the house they love when they have a "day of beauty": their masters "clean their feathers", it makes them very happy.
If there is an opportunity to come to communicate with them, then welcome - they are very much waiting for it!
Material: Irina Golizdra, especially for UP Life
